Application Deadline:
15 November 2026
About Organisation
The Insect Welfare Research Society (IWRS) is an academic-led research society established in 2023 to advance evidence-based understanding of insect and invertebrate welfare. The organization supports the global insect welfare research community and promotes the integration of scientific evidence into policies and practices affecting insects and other invertebrates. Its work covers terrestrial invertebrates such as insects, spiders, myriapods and gastropods, as well as aquatic invertebrates including shrimp, horseshoe crabs and cephalopods. IWRS focuses on improving understanding of welfare and encouraging evidence-based approaches across research, education, agriculture, food production, conservation and other contexts where invertebrates may experience welfare concerns.
About the Grant
The IWRS Teaching Innovation Award supports instructors who are developing innovative approaches to teaching insect or invertebrate biology while incorporating the 3Rs principles: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. The award is designed to encourage teaching methods and instructional materials that reduce potential animal welfare impacts associated with educational practices. Funding can support the creation and implementation of new teaching resources, activities and pedagogical approaches. Priority is given to proposals addressing common teaching practices that have significant welfare implications. Two awards of $2,000 USD are available annually, providing educators with financial support to test and implement more welfare-conscious approaches to teaching insect and invertebrate biology.
Who can Apply?
The award is intended for instructors developing innovative approaches to teaching insect or invertebrate biology. Applicants should propose an educational intervention that meaningfully incorporates the 3Rs principles — Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. The proposed approach should seek to reduce welfare impacts associated with teaching practices while maintaining or improving educational outcomes. Priority is given to projects addressing commonly used teaching methods that may have substantial welfare implications. Applicants should be able to explain the educational problem, describe their proposed teaching innovation, demonstrate how the 3Rs will be incorporated, and explain how the approach can improve both learning outcomes and welfare considerations.
How to Apply?
Develop a teaching innovation focused on insect or invertebrate biology and clearly incorporate the 3Rs principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. Identify the existing teaching practice and explain its welfare implications. Describe your proposed instructional materials or pedagogical approach, expected educational outcomes and welfare benefits. Explain how the approach can be implemented and potentially adopted more broadly. Submit the required application materials according to IWRS instructions before the deadline.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 15 November 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
